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Here's a previous post of mine on high-velocity loazs. Are you really getting any benefits from the more expensive premium high-velocity pheasant loads? Well, let’s see what the pattern board can tell us about these two loads and how they performed in my gun/chokes. Patterning results from a...

Oops, I forgot to include this photo of the Hevi load components.

After getting a few of these shells from a hunting buddy, I dissected and patterned these shot shells to assess their component consistency and performance from a Rem-choke Modified choke at 40 yards. Five shells from the same box as the shells to be patterned were cut open and the components...

If you do need nontoxic shot loads, here's a previous post of mine that may be helpful. When using steel loads on pheasants, it is best to go with loads that contain #2 or #3 steel pellets. Steel shot lethality research conducted on pheasants by Tom Roster showed #2 steel to be more effective...

Here's a previous post of mine on your topic. Hope this helps and good luck! Inside of 40 yards, the No. 6 lead pellet is adequate for pheasants, but when shots start getting on the long side of 40 yards, you’ll probably be better off with the No. 5 lead pellet! Of course, you’ll need to choke...

Here's a previous post of mine on 20-gauge pheasant loads. If you are shooting pheasants with a 20-gauge, go with 1- to 1 1/4-ounce loads of lead #6s or #5s. If choked appropriately, loads in that range should take care of any pheasant shooting out to about 40 yards. Here are a few of my...

What does the pattern board tell us about 20ga IC and Mod chokes at 30-yards. Pattern results from a 20-gauge Browning Citori with 28" Invector-plus barrels using Briley flush chokes (patterns average of five, 30" post-shot scribed circle, yardage taped muzzle to target, and in-shell pellet...

Go with #3 or #2 low-cost steel loads and you'll be fine if you choke them appropriately for the distance of your shots. Here are a few of my pattern numbers to give you an idea of the kind of performance you may get from these low-cost steel loads. Patterning results from a 12-gauge 3-inch...

Here's my take on steel pheasant loads. When using steel on pheasants, it is best to go with loads that contain #2 or #3 steel pellets. Steel shot lethality research conducted on pheasants by Tom Roster showed #2 steel to be more effective (at all ranges) than either #6 or #4 steel. Yes, #4 or...

12ga 2 ¾” #6.5 Winchester Xpert Game & Target Steel Load Pattern results from a 12-gauge Browning Citori with 28" Invector-plus barrels using Briley flush chokes (patterns average of five, 30" post-shot scribed circle, yardage taped muzzle to target, and in-shell pellet count average of five)...

I shot 20 patterns today through 4 chokes (5/choke) with the 6.5 steel load. It will take a couple days to read the patterns and put the numbers together so stay tuned!

I saw some of these shells at an Academy today. It looks like the Winchester's Marketing Dept. has been busy trying to build a better mouse trap. At one time Remington marketed a #6 1/2 steel load as a trap load so I thought some on here would be interested in hearing about this load. I...

See John's post above! As others have said, the only way to really know how your barrel/load/choke combo performs is to pattern it at the intended distance of your shots. Here are a few of my pattern numbers from some pheasant appropriate loads (lead and steel) to give you an idea of the kind...

Here's an old post of mine concerning steel pheasant loads. Hope this helps, good luck! When using steel loads on pheasants, it is best to go with loads that contain #2 or #3 steel pellets. Steel shot lethality research conducted on pheasants by Tom Roster showed #2 steel to be more effective...

Ok, here are my thoughts. All this hollering while hunting is crap!!! If I'm with some new pheasant hunters I may say "hen" when one is flushed to keep them legal, but I never say ROOSTER!!! Of course, being an old fart, I grew up in a day when male pheasants were called "cocks" not...

Dixie has been fortunate to get several water birds. This had to be the best one. These photos are a retrieve she made on a bird the hunters on the other side of the small lake shot and fell just on the outside edge of the cattails on their side of the lake. Their dogs either didn't mark the...

Of course, you are free to shoot what you like, but there are always tradeoffs and compromises to be made with payloads, velocities, shot sizes, chokes, gauges, etc. when it comes to ammo selection. Which combo(s) of those variables is adequate to do the job makes for interesting discussion? I...

I realize that we all have to do with what we've got or what we can get now days but here's some info that I'v posted before concerning Hi-Velocity load performance. Are you really getting any benefits from the more expensive “Premium” or “Super” pheasant loads on the market? Well, let’s see...

For me, it's hard to beat a Citori Lighting w/ 28" barrels for upland work. I have both 12 and 20 gauges in that configuration and use the 20ga mostly for upland work, but I do shoot the 12 on occasions so it doesn't feel left out!

Grit -- I prefer Brownings (Citori Lightnings) for their fit to me but Browning or Beretta are both good choices. A 20ga with 28" or 30" barrels with choke tubes should serve you well. My favorite for hunting and some clays is a 20ga Citori Lightning w/ 28" barrels.